Relocation
By Elizabeth Goode
As Jim Frayne approached the Bob-Whites' clubhouse, he was surprised to hear something solid impact the wall, followed by a shriek. He froze. What in the ...
His question was answered as the door burst open, and Trixie shot outside. Her forehead was shining with perspiration, some of her blond curls plastered to her face. She staggered toward him, literally right into his arms.
Alarm flooded through him at her distinctly un-Trixie-like behavior. Nice as it was to have Trixie in his arms, it wasn't exactly normal behavior for her to be so - so girly.
"Trix?"
She straightened up immediately, clearly embarrassed by her actions.
"There's a raccoon in the clubhouse! A big one!"
His hand remained on her shoulder to steady her, and he could feel the nervous tension still running through her petite frame.
"What happened?"
"I came down to the clubhouse to look for my missing library book, and noticed that there was a window open toward the back, with the skis and the camping equipment. I found my book on the sofa and it was shredded. That kind of freaked me out, so I started to sit down on the sofa to think about what might have happened, and I noticed a really gross mess on the sofa. I think it had babies in the clubhouse!"
He couldn't help his immediate reaction, even as he realized that he sounded like Di Lynch. "Eew."
"Eew is right! Then, from out of nowhere, this huge furry thing came flying at me! I'd closed the door, so I was trapped in there with it, and it was really ticked off to be sharing space with me!" She shook her head, causing her curls to bounce. "I wasn't even sure what it was at first because it's starting to get dark, and it was just such a surprise. I thought I was shut in with a Tasmanian Devil or something from the noises it was making!"
Jim gave her shoulder a squeeze. "Don't apologize. Raccoons are wild animals, and they're as dangerous as anything if they're cornered. If it did ... procreate in there, we're going to have one heck of a mess to deal with. Who left the window open anyway?"
Trixie's brow furrowed in a frown. "Brian Belden, that's who! He was in there last night digging for his ice skates."
"Looks like he's going to be paying for your library book." Jim cautiously opened the door just a crack, peering around the corner. A vicious snarl from inside the clubhouse caused him to slam the door hastily. "Yeah, it's ticked off all right."
"How are we going to get it out? I mean, without having to get a series of rabies shots?" Trixie looked up at Jim hopefully. "Say, you're the woodsman of the group - how do you get an angry raccoon out of a small space without losing an eye?"
He thought for a moment. "Well ... it's mostly likely not rabid. Seriously, I wish I'd never mentioned that mad weasel!"
Trixie laughed. "Little did you know that one tale would spark mass paranoia among your friends!"
"If she's got babies, I'd hate to see her separated from them. We need to set a humane trap, and take the whole little family out into the preserve for a little raccoon witness relocation. They've seen too much."
Giggling, Trixie asked, "Do we know anyone who has a humane trap?"
He shrugged. "I bet Mr. Maypenny does. Fancy a ride?"
"Sure thing!" She agreed excitedly. "We really should leave a note or something on the clubhouse. I'd hate to see the rest of the Bob-Whites get a nasty surprise. Except maybe Brian."
Jim had been headed to the clubhouse to work on writing a paper for his Literature class, and so he had his backpack with him. He dug around for a notebook and a pen, and hastily scrawled, "DO NOT ENTER. Raccoon in Clubhouse. Gone to Maypenny's for humane trap. Jim and Trixie." He tore off the sheet of paper and passed it to Trixie, who went to work securing it on the front door. On a second sheet he wrote, "Here there be monsters." On a third, "Abandon hope all ye who enter ..."
Trixie laughed. "I should put that one up on Bobby's bedroom door. That kid makes me look like a neat freak. He doesn't so much sleep on his bed as he does sort of nest in it."